Chapter Twelve

   The bus was empty. I walked all the way to the back seat and waited for him to pay the driver. Leaving my luggage in the front, he came and sat beside me. Casually, he put his arm around my shoulders. Softly, I leant into him and rested my head on his shoulder while wrapping my arm around his front. I felt so tired, somehow. Alright, I had spent the whole night awake but I’ve always been able to drift to sleep. Silently and unmoving, I yawned but he noticed.

   ‘Sleep,’ he whispered in my ear.

   ‘How?’ He chuckled and it rumbled through me.

   ‘Daydream.’

   ‘Of what?’

   He sighed. ‘Anything. You, me, your abilities... Jake,’ he added blankly.

   ‘Michael, don’t mention that name to me again.’ I sat up and stubbornly looked him in the eyes.

   ‘Why? What’s there for me to not know?’

   ‘Just leave it well alone, please.’

   ‘Oh, I see. It’s too early for me to ask or you to talk about it.’ I sat back, folded my arms and stared out of the window to my left. ‘I take that as a yes.’

   I felt his hand slip down me and rest on the small of my back. Surprisingly, it was quite comforting.

   ‘Am I in trouble?’ he asked in a childish tone.

   ‘No... What gave you that impression?’ I replied with a slight smile.

   ‘I don’t know; the way you looked at me.’

   ‘Oh, excuse me for being open with my boyfriend.’ Turning to face him.

   ‘Aww, don’t be that way.’ His thumb stroked my back. ‘After all the years we’ve known each other; it’s only recently I realised that I didn’t just miss being with you, I... seem... to need you.’ I furrowed my eyebrows. His eyes were emotionless – not in a hard way, just blank. His lips were a thin line.

   ‘Aww, Mike.’ My arms dropped and my hands rested in my lap. The rumbling of the engine shook me slightly. I watched his eyes; the sweetness of them now bewildered me. Then looking at his face completely, he was smiling delicately. He entwined his free hand in mine and began to lean closer. Softening my eyes, I tilted my head by a fraction (towards to back of the seat). My grip tightened on his fingers. He didn’t flinch; instead, he freed his hand again. Only to take one of mine again, place our palms together, then put his fingers between mine and closed. At the same time, he leant really close but to rest his forehead against mine. Our eyes locked together in a passionate stare.

   Then he kissed me. He locked his lips lightly, unmoving, against my slightly opened ones. I was back in my second favourite place – in his arms, on his lips. His other hand now ran up my back, over my shoulder and onto my cheek; gently caressing my skin.

   ‘Mike...’ Pulling away the slightest bit.

   ‘Yes...’

   ‘When are we getting off?’

   ‘Ah, oh. Good question... Where are we?’ He looked out the window to check where we were. ‘Hmm, nearly there.’

   Stepping off the bus, we waited for it to start off again before trekking on. We were in a nearby town.

   ‘So, where are we?’

   ‘I have no idea of the name...’ he admitted.

   ‘Oh, you’re helpful.’ I rolled my eyes. ‘Where are we staying? Have you moved house or something?’

   ‘No; I have friends here. Which reminds me...’ He reached into a pocket and pulled out his mobile. Sliding the lid up, he plugged in a number and held it to his ear. ‘Do you mind if I mention you?’ I shrugged. ‘Hey, Ian. Come and pick us up please...... Yes, me and a... friend.’ He quickly looked at me, I just smiled. ‘Just bring the car...... No, I don’t want you to bring the others.’ He rolled his eyes. ‘The bus stop...... Yeh, see ya.’ He slid his phone shut and replaced it in his pocket; at the same time my mobile vibrated. I slipped it out of my pocket and paced behind the glass panel. Flipping it open, I quickly read the message: Tif, where are you? I’m sorry; I want to see you again, please. It wasn’t your fault X.

   Jake, I began; I can’t see you ever again. A tear rolled down my cheek. Out of friendship, I can’t. It’s not you, if you saw me now you’d understand (and I can’t tell you). You’re still my friend, I just can’t be yours.

   Pressing send and replacing it in my pocket, I wiped away the tears and just stayed leant against the plastic; head bowed.

   ‘Tif, he’s here,’ Mike called from behind me. His footsteps sounded on the pavement towards me. ‘Tif? What’s up?’

   ‘Nothing,’ I sighed, walking past him to grab a bag.

   ‘No, something’s wrong and I want to know.’ He turned me around by grasping my arm. ‘Tell me, Tif; I worry about you and you’re making me worry more when you just say nothing.’ Unfortunately, my eyes were still flooding. I quickly hardened my features.

   ‘Alright, Mike; I’ll tell you but not here, not now. It’s too early and here’s not private enough.’

   ‘Alright. Will you tell me later tonight?’

   ‘Yes, can we go now?’ He nodded, walked past and tapped on the window of the car I had just noticed. It was an old, red Peugeot 106 – or a boy-racer car, as I called them. The window rolled down. ‘Open the boot, Ian.’

   ‘Done.’

   As Mike walked to the back and opened the boot, I picked up one of my bags to put in. Once I’d dumped it in, I went to the passenger side door and slid in.

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